Tom Lohuis with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game assists with caribou capturing as part of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge wildlife highway crossing study.

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has expanded a multi-year wildlife highway crossing mitigation study to include additional animals and new outreach tools.  The project, funded by the Alaska Department of Transportation and the Federal Highways Administration, is designed to determine areas where large numbers of moose cross the Sterling Highway on the Refuge, before the highway is widened and traffic speeds are increased.  Possible wildlife crossing overpasses or underpasses could be considered as part of the highway improvements if determined to be warranted.  Thirty-one moose have been fitted with radio transmitters for the second year of the study and recently four caribou were added via funds contributed by National Wildlife Refuge System roads money.  The caribou are part of the lowland herd which migrates through the area throughout the year.  Additionally, a radio transmitter for people has been added to the project!  As you travel between Mileposts 62 and 62.5 you may tune to 1170 am to receive information about the study.  Signs along the road alert motorists to the am radio information as well as to a wildlife sighting hotline where motorists spotting wildlife crossing the road are encouraged to call (907) 262-2300.